Table 2.
Multivariate Cox analysis of the effect of telomere-length on melanoma-specific survival.
| N | Dead | HR (95% CI) | P | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telomere length | Long (ratio >1.20) | 405 | 25 | ref | |
| Short (ratio ≤1.20) | 452 | 51 | 1.17 (0.71–1.94) | 0.53 | |
| Composite genetic risk score | (continuous) | 857 | 76 | 2.75 (1.34–5.62) | 0.006 |
| Age at diagnosis | (continuous) | 857 | 76 | 1.03 (1.02–1.05) | 0.0001 |
| Sex | Males | 389 | 43 | ref | |
| Females | 468 | 33 | 0.75 (0.45–1.23) | 0.25 | |
| Nevus count | <50 | 731 | 71 | ref | |
| >50 | 126 | 5 | 0.54 (0.21–1.38) | 0.20 | |
| Tumor location | Axial | 476 | 50 | ref | |
| Extremities | 322 | 17 | 0.57 (0.32–1.02) | 0.06 | |
| Acral/Mucosal | 59 | 9 | 1.00 (0.47–2.12) | 1.00 | |
| Tumor stage* | 1 (1A, 1B) | 616 | 27 | ref | |
| 2 (2A, 2B, 2C) | 241 | 49 | 4.05 (2.49–6.60) | <0.0001 |
*As tumor stage is defined by Breslow thickness, presence/absence of ulceration and tumor mitotic rate, therefore only tumor stage was included in the analysis.